RE: Vauxhall VXR8 GTS | Spotted
Discussion
I test drove a VXR8, was considering buying new , I was coming from a 500hp supercharged 370z . With 3 people on board it really didn't feel fast nothing like the claimed hp , perhaps its the gearing. Didn't have the quality feel of a car at this price point either.
My wife was far more scathing, she described it as a fat Vectra which coming from someone who drive a Prius at the time was extremely harsh but funny
I love the idea of them but unfortunately the execution was lacking , I suspect however that once modified its a very different story
I bought a Jag XFR instead and had it modified to just over 600 hp/torque
My wife was far more scathing, she described it as a fat Vectra which coming from someone who drive a Prius at the time was extremely harsh but funny
I love the idea of them but unfortunately the execution was lacking , I suspect however that once modified its a very different story
I bought a Jag XFR instead and had it modified to just over 600 hp/torque
Comments above are exactly what I expected: you either ‘get’ or don’t ‘get’ these cars – they’re only going to appeal to certain folk. Which is fine. But I’ll say RWD, manual, great big V8 that sounds brilliant, and great handling, what’s not to like?
Yeah £42k is a lot and the fact it’s been for sale for ages says something, but similar ‘normal’ VXR8s still with >400bhp and often much more are way less than half that price. Not the full GTS experience admittedly, but I’ve not driven one so don’t know what I’m missing.
For many these cars ain’t about outright performance. I’ve got to say that as I’ve ‘only’ got 400bhp in mine and wouldn’t see which way a well-driven Golf R went on a twisty road. But do I care? fk no. All about the character for me.
Yeah £42k is a lot and the fact it’s been for sale for ages says something, but similar ‘normal’ VXR8s still with >400bhp and often much more are way less than half that price. Not the full GTS experience admittedly, but I’ve not driven one so don’t know what I’m missing.
For many these cars ain’t about outright performance. I’ve got to say that as I’ve ‘only’ got 400bhp in mine and wouldn’t see which way a well-driven Golf R went on a twisty road. But do I care? fk no. All about the character for me.
Have had a CV8 since 2004. A few simple modes lift BHP to 420 or so (only an LS1), add a few suspension tweaks and its a fun car.
Starting to show its age at 145k miles but surprisingly little rust considering it has never been garaged and was my company car
for the best part of 8 years. Some satisfaction in out-dragging a DB9 and various hot Mercs / Audis /BMW's over the years and its
cheap as chips to service. 365 CO2 is a worry, I have never seem a less eco friendly vehicle.
Starting to show its age at 145k miles but surprisingly little rust considering it has never been garaged and was my company car
for the best part of 8 years. Some satisfaction in out-dragging a DB9 and various hot Mercs / Audis /BMW's over the years and its
cheap as chips to service. 365 CO2 is a worry, I have never seem a less eco friendly vehicle.
a11y_m said:
Comments above are exactly what I expected: you either ‘get’ or don’t ‘get’ these cars – they’re only going to appeal to certain folk. Which is fine. But I’ll say RWD, manual, great big V8 that sounds brilliant, and great handling, what’s not to like?
Yeah £42k is a lot and the fact it’s been for sale for ages says something, but similar ‘normal’ VXR8s still with >400bhp and often much more are way less than half that price. Not the full GTS experience admittedly, but I’ve not driven one so don’t know what I’m missing.
For many these cars ain’t about outright performance. I’ve got to say that as I’ve ‘only’ got 400bhp in mine and wouldn’t see which way a well-driven Golf R went on a twisty road. But do I care? fk no. All about the character for me.
Agreed, this is a bit like TVR.Yeah £42k is a lot and the fact it’s been for sale for ages says something, but similar ‘normal’ VXR8s still with >400bhp and often much more are way less than half that price. Not the full GTS experience admittedly, but I’ve not driven one so don’t know what I’m missing.
For many these cars ain’t about outright performance. I’ve got to say that as I’ve ‘only’ got 400bhp in mine and wouldn’t see which way a well-driven Golf R went on a twisty road. But do I care? fk no. All about the character for me.
It doesn't matter that the high power, power/weight ratio does not translate to road/track performance compared to German performance cars with DSG.
The agricultural feel makes it feel alive and visceral. You have to work at the gear shift then control the power with your right foot without much automated gadgetry and only two wheel drive. This is all part of the involvement and fun. The power and torque gives the exhilaration and knowing that's all mechanical sound and not synthesised throught the speakers. Lovely natural feel.
J4CKO said:
Are these much quicker than an M4 despite the disparity in horsepower ? I know its not exactly the point but would be interesting to see how much there is in it.
It would murder an M4 once rolling and you can extract over 800hp from one without even opening the engine. My Monaro has a forged LSA in it with a bigger supercharger. Over 60mph it annihilates pretty much everything. Very amusing.
Eazy71 said:
I can absolutely see the appeal. Here in Oz these are glorious relics of the old skool...in the UK they are gloriously mad! Even as a UK ex pat over here - I love them...not sure I’d like to tackle a northern England winter in one mind!!!
Not too bad at all - used my 2002 Ute as a daily driver for about 4 years... I did get it thoroughly waxoiled as soon as I bought it though...Good cars, I've driven a friends round silverstone too (prior to him upgrading with walkinshaw)
I can understand how people can "not get it" but in equal measure can understand those who "do".
( but I've gone through same agonisation over buying something like a Jaguar XK)
I suppose the same way some might not know what a MG SV or ZTT is some may not get it
On performance side it seems pretty heavy and doesn't feel like a track toy, but a very characterful tourer with good looks.
One strange thing I found was ambitious friend at SantaPod having just upgraded to Walkinshaw whose own personal expectation was around 11s but after numerous runs hs best was 13.69(13.79 same day in my Skoda Octavia with 300hp)
I think he must have been burning up his tyres and could have done with some more drag specific ones perhaps or even more drag practice, although he's had a little more than me which isn't much either way.
(A 20mpg economy difference, older car, etc etc, wouldn't justify it for me but I went for a nice boring safe option)
I would say though, if I was spending 20+ I wouldn't end up with one of these but can appreciate the love alhough finance seems high. I think I'd be more interested in lightweight like Lotus something (I'd have a Vauxhall VX220 over one of these personally but we all have different attraction points)
If you cope with something thats a family sized car with looks that just turns heads and limited numbers, not bothered by the price, or detractors that just think of them amongst other vauxhalls, and not expecting it to be necessarily as fast as a lot of things you can't go too wrong. I think you've really got to get it and want one as in super saloons in its price category is plenty of competition though ( Kia etc).
I can understand how people can "not get it" but in equal measure can understand those who "do".
( but I've gone through same agonisation over buying something like a Jaguar XK)
I suppose the same way some might not know what a MG SV or ZTT is some may not get it
On performance side it seems pretty heavy and doesn't feel like a track toy, but a very characterful tourer with good looks.
One strange thing I found was ambitious friend at SantaPod having just upgraded to Walkinshaw whose own personal expectation was around 11s but after numerous runs hs best was 13.69(13.79 same day in my Skoda Octavia with 300hp)
I think he must have been burning up his tyres and could have done with some more drag specific ones perhaps or even more drag practice, although he's had a little more than me which isn't much either way.
(A 20mpg economy difference, older car, etc etc, wouldn't justify it for me but I went for a nice boring safe option)
I would say though, if I was spending 20+ I wouldn't end up with one of these but can appreciate the love alhough finance seems high. I think I'd be more interested in lightweight like Lotus something (I'd have a Vauxhall VX220 over one of these personally but we all have different attraction points)
If you cope with something thats a family sized car with looks that just turns heads and limited numbers, not bothered by the price, or detractors that just think of them amongst other vauxhalls, and not expecting it to be necessarily as fast as a lot of things you can't go too wrong. I think you've really got to get it and want one as in super saloons in its price category is plenty of competition though ( Kia etc).
Edited by daytonavrs on Tuesday 15th September 21:26
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